Lipo fat could be stem cell source

September 10, 2009 10:30:58 AM PDT

September 10, 2009 --

Fat sucked out of chunky thighs or flabby bellies might provide an easy source of stem cells. Researchers at Stanford University's School of Medicine found that immature fat cells in the material removed during liposuction were easy to transform into cells called induced pluri-potent stem cells - IPS cells. Those can be re-directed to form heart cells, bone cells, brain cells or any other type of desired cell.

Researchers are trying to make stocks of these cells to use in research and hope eventually they can treat diseases.

The study is reported online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.